The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-11-08
The Same Baths Century and Half

The Same Baths a Century and Half
Ago.
From, Lady Mary WortIey Montagu's Letters
went to the bath about 10 o'clock 1t
was already full of women. 1t is built of
stone, in the shape of dome, with no win
dows but in the roof, which gives light
enough There were five of these domes
Joined together, the outmost being less than
the rest, and serving only as a hall, where
the FORTRESS stood at the door. Ladies of
qnality generally give this woman the
value of a crown or ten shillings, and did
not forget that ceremony. The next room is
a very large one paved with marble, and all
around it, raised, two sofas of marble, one
above another There were four fountains
of cold water in this room, falling first into
marble basins and then running on the floor
in little channels made for that purpose,
which carried the streams into the next
room, something less than this, with the
same sort of marble sofas, but so hot with
steams of sulphur proceeding from the baths
Joining to it il was impossible to stay there
with ones clothes on. The two other domes
were the hot baths, one of which had cocks
of cold water turning into it to temper it TO
what degree of warmth the bathers have
mind to.
was in my travelling habit, which is a
riding dress, and certainly appeared very
extraordinary to them. Yet there was not
one of them that showed the least surprise
or impertinent curiosity, but received me
with all the obliging civiity possible. know
no European court where the ladies would
have behaved themselves in SO polite man
ner to stranger. | believe, on the whole,
there were 200 women, and yet none of
those disdainful smiles or satiric whispers
that never fail in our assemblies when any
body appears that is not dressed exactly in
the fashion.
The first sofas were covered with cushions
and rich carpets, ON which sat the ladies;
and on the second their slaves behind them,
but without any distinction of rank by
their dress, all being in the state of nature
that is, in plain English, stark naked, with
out any beauty or defect concealed. Yet
there was not the least wanton smile or i'm
modest gesture among them They walked
and moved with the same majestic grace
which Milton describes of our general moth
er. There We're many among them as ex-
actly proportionate as ever any goddess was
drawn by the pencil of Guido or Titan
and most of their skins shiningly white,
only adorned by their beautiful hair, di.
vided into many tresses, hanging on their
shoulders, braided either with pearl or rib
bon, perfectly representing the figures of
the Graces.
was here convinced of the truth of re-
Election bad often made, that if it was the
fashion to go naked, the face would be hard
" observed perceived that the ladies with
the finest skins and most delicate shapes had
the greatest share of my admiration, though
theiI. faces were sometimes less beautiful
than those of their companions. / fancy it
would have very much improved the art of
any master to see so many fine women
naked in different postures, some in CONVEX
sation, some working, others drinking cof-
fee or sherbet, and many negligently lying
on their cushions, while their slaves tgener-
ally pretty girls of seventeen or eighteen).
were employed in braiding their hair in
several pretty fancies.
They generally take this diversion once a
week. and stay there at least four or five
hours without getting cold by Immediately
coming out of the hot bath into the cold
room, which was very surprising to me.
The lady that seemed the most considerable
among them entreated me to sit by her, and
would fain have undressed me for the bath
[ excused myself with some difficulty. They
being all so earnest in persuading me, J.
was at last forced to open my shirt and
show them my stays; which satisfied them
very well, for | saw they believed l was so
locked up in that machine that it was not
in my own power to open it, which they at
tributed to my husband.
One Of the highest entertainments in Tur-
key is having you to their baths. When l
was introduced to one, the lady of the house
came to undress me--another high conlpli-
ment they pay TO strangers. After she had
slipped OFF my gown and saw my stays she
was struck at the sight of them. and
cried out to the other ladies in the bath:
Come hither and see now cruelty the poor
English ladies are used by their husbands.
You need toast, indeed, OF the superior
liberties allowed you when they lock you
4I.xxe. tv.. 49,